Victory in the
Pacific

The purpose of this variant is to eliminate the Location Uncertain rolls and
their accompanying disaster scenarios without removing the variability of the
turn one raids that flavor the game. To accomplish this, control over
Allied forces is almost completely returned to the Allied player -- with very
few units fixed in position. Rule 18 (Turn One) is also completely
replaced to accommodate this change.

The changes simplify the game. At the same time, the game is balanced
by widening the Allied player's options (thereby reducing Japanese commitment to
the raids and increasing the average number of survivors) and removing the
arbitrary chance that USN CV fall victim before the Allied player ever gets to
move them.

The changes from the 2nd edition game can be summarized as follows:

W and X location uncertain groups are based in Johnston Island and may
move from there

Allied forces (other than units in Indonesia and Pearl Harbor) are placed in bases and allowed to move freely

US ships are limited to two areas

Japanese must designate third round targets in the Hawaiians before Allied raiders
move

Allied forces in the Hawaiians are not required to fight to remain in the
area

A day/night roll is required for 3rd and 4th Hawaiians rounds even if
Allied forces aren't fighting

Basing Uncertain rolls (Groups Y and Z) keep the chance for 3 CV in
Australia the same but reduce the chance for 4 or more

LBA may return fire during the second round of each raid

The Japanese calls the order of resolution per normal rules

The benefits of these changes, in order, are:

Allied player chooses the level of risk he'll take with his CV -- stay
safe in the Hawaiians, risk the I-Boat for better basing, or attack

Placement of Allied units (other than those in Indonesia and Pearl Harbor)
is completely under Allied control

IJN only has to worry about North Pacific Ocean, Central Pacific Ocean,
and Marshall Islands over the 2nd edition but also knows that no more than 2
CV can possibly move to these areas

The risk to USN forces staying to fight is reduced while the odds that
bottomed ships will survive increase

The USN is guaranteed 3 extra PoC and the flag if it doesn't fight in the
Hawaiian Islands

Without four guaranteed day rounds, bottomed ships do not need to be conceded

USN doesn't lose any strategic options

IJN must target the hard-to-hit LBA during raids or risk losses

One more exceptional rule has been eliminated

Give it a try and see what you think! Let us know what you think after
you've played it! Check out play-testers experience by following the links
from the detail of each quick
round game!

On the first turn, play is altered slightly to reflect the effects of the
Japanese surprise attacks on Pearl Harbor and in Indonesia. Movement and combat
are executed in sequence normally, except:

18.1 Pearl Harbor: Japanese ships with speed >= 5 may automatically
move to the Hawaiian Islands during the raiding phase where they immediately
conduct an air raid (two rounds) against Allied units in Pearl Harbor. The 7th
A.F., if available, may return fire during the second round.

18.11 After the air raid, the Japanese can retreat or stay for
combat. If they retreat now, they cannot be pursued.

18.12 If the Japanese stay, each IJN carrier must immediately
designate a target in the event that the first regular combat round is a day
action. Targets may include units raiding, in Pearl Harbor, or in the Hawaiian
Islands. If, during the first regular combat round, the assigned target is
unavailable (i.e., not in Pearl Harbor nor engaged in combat in the Hawaiian
Islands), the carrier loses its attack during the first regular combat round. If the first
combat round is a night action, these target designations are ignored.

18.13 After the Pearl Harbor air raid, the Allied player moves his
raiding units. The Japanese player then places the I-Boat.

18.131 USN raiding ships may not attempt to move into a third sea
area (moves which would normally require a speed roll).

18.132 Units in Pearl Harbor are raiders and may not move until
the raiding phase. During raider deployment, undamaged ships from
Pearl Harbor may freely leave the Hawaiian Islands. The 7th A.F. and
damaged ships from Pearl Harbor may only move to the Hawaiian Islands.

18.133 Units in Indonesia count as patrollers but may not move at all.

18.14 At the beginning of the first regular round of combat in the
Hawaiian Islands, the Allied player may refuse to engage Japanese forces. If
so, Japanese units may not attack Allied units in the Hawaiian Islands and
vice versa for the remainder of the turn (Exception: The I-Boat may still
attack any ship which left Pearl Harbor).

18.15 Japanese forces may remain in the Hawaiian Islands for a
maximum of two regular rounds of combat. Within the limitations of 18.12,
they may target engaged Allied units (18.14) and, during day actions, units in
Pearl Harbor. After two regular rounds of combat, the IJN must retreat.
Engaged Allied units may pursue.

18.16 Japanese ships may not pursue Allied forces which retreat from
the Hawaiian Islands.

18.2 Indonesia: The first two rounds of combat in Indonesia are
automatically day actions. The 5th A.F. may not return fire during the first
automatic day action. Allied units may not be disabled nor retreat until the
third combat round.

18.3 Basing Uncertain: Immediately prior to Allied basing, the Allied
player rolls one die for each “basing uncertain” ship. On a roll of 1, the ship
may be immediately based at any red Allied port; otherwise, the ship bases at
Pearl Harbor.

Q18.1-1 [3/03] If the 7th AF shoots back
and rolls a 5 is the target ship disabled?A. Yes.

Q18.3-1 [7/03] If the Hermes raids into
Indonesia on Turn One, can it shoot back on the first round?A. Yes. Note that the Hermes becomes subject to the special rules
if she makes this choice -- neither able to retreat nor be disabled until the
third round.

Q18.132-1 [3/05] Can the 7th A.F. be left
in Pearl Harbor instead of placing it in the Hawaiian Islands? And, if so,
can it continue to return fire after each daylight round during regular combat?A. Yes. Yes. Any ship or unit can always be left in port
rather than being moved. Naturally, any unit left in Pearl Harbor is
subject to possible additional attacks during the first two regular combat
rounds even if the Allied forces in the Hawaiian Islands elect not to engage the
enemy.

Victory in the Pacific® is a registered
trademark of The Avalon Hill Game Company.